ANNUAL MEETING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9291, 28 April 1920, Page 6

ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of parishioners of St Stephen's Church was held last evening, Rev J. F. Wiseman presiding over a good attendance. ANNUAL REPORT. The Vicar's annual report read as louo'ws:—

•'Tins annual report deals with the year ending Marcn Hi, 192U, but as _. only came to you as your V icar on January _.v, iy__u, you will understand that i cannot speak to you of the year's doings as X should be able to under ordinary circumstances, in December iust, ihe _t.ev._ti. _\l. Wright, wiio had been your Vicar for over three ana a-liaif years, left this parish to take up work m tne North Island, and, after some delay, it fell to my lot to succeed him. i may fairly say, 'i have a goodly heritage.' in February Mr U. W. Ailard left Ashburton to take up work in Christchurch, and tins parish lost a zealous worker. As lay reader, choir member, C.E.M.S. .brother, Sunday School teacher, etc., vMr Ailard did his duty. Last September, Miss B. Claridge became organist of St. Stephen's, and I may safely say

that the appointment has proved a most happy one. 1 take this opportunity of expressing our appreciation of her work, and of thanking her myself for her readiness to help at extra services and on other occasions. I must make mention of our 'Memorial Effort.' As a result of this effort, a little over £1250 has. been raised. While the total indebtedness was in the neighbourhood •of £2000, we may well be thankful for what has been accomplished. Nor have we finished with it; for I hope to see further effort made, and the whole amount raised at least within a year. I can hardly speak too highly of the -services of the members of our choir. It

has indeed been a pleasure to me to be associated with them; and I associate myself with you all most sincerely in expressing our gratitude. Among the members of the church who realise that to be a Christian implies service, are those who faithfully, week after week, take their part in the work of our Sunday Schools and 'Bible Classes, either at St. Stephen's, Hampstead, or at Fairton. They ask no reward; but they have their reward—God

knows their faithfulness. May there be no lack of teachers, and no lack of interest in the great work of our Sunday Schools. Services have been held regularly at Winchmore, Wakanui, Seafield, Fairfield, and Tuarangi Home, thanks to Messrs Ailard and Peters, lay readers. When Mr Ailard left, Mr L. S. F. Bell very kindly offered his services. He had commenced work as a lay reader, but the need of another male teacher in the Sunday School being urgent,. he has generously transferred his services to that department of our Church work ? thus enabling me to take more services in the country districts myself; Parish organisation included the C.E.M.S., the Women's Guild, Boy Scouts, Mothers' Union, and the Girls' Club. The C.E.M.S., a splendid organisation, to whose ranks we hope to see many recruits in the near future, has been a great power for good in ■ the parish. Strengthened and encouraged by the visit of the Rev. W. Bullock in October last, the society is at present looking forward to a second visit from the General Secretary. The Women's Guild have worked faithfully and well, and their usefulness as a parish organisation is considerable. We hope to see more women of the congregation coming forward to help in the work of the parish in this way. The Mothers' Union and the Girls' Club arc both valuable organisations; Aye welcome their existence, aud wish them all success. I wish to thank Miss Galbraith for her work in connection with the weekly classes at St. Stephen's aud Hampstead. Her assistance is invaluable, and I sincerely hope she will be able to continue with this work.

-Mr T. F, Smith, who had previously looked after the advertising section of the Magazine, has now also kindly taken Over the work of treasurer and general business manager. In addition to this work Mr Smith is also treasurer and librarian of St. Stephen's Sunday School. I wish here to record my appreciation of his work. Recently Mr Robert Stock took over the duties

of Verger of St. Stephen's, and I can only say that I hope he will be able to continue in that position for a long time. The interest he takes in his work, the thorough way in which he does it, his readiness to help in any way at any time, are deserving of our commendation and thanks. During the year there have been 48 baptisms, 25 marriages, and 47 burials, while 24 persons were confirmed. Though comparatively few in numbers, the Boy Scouts, under the energetic leadership of Assistant Scoutmaster Arnst, have carried on. I only hope that there will be many additions to their ranks in the near future. To the churchwardens and Vestry our thanks are due for their labours. It has been a great pleasure to me personally to be associated with them during the short time I have been here. In conclusion, let me thank all those who, in one way or another, have assisted in the work of the parish. I look forward to increased interest and resultant progress in the work of the church in this parish, and I ask yon, one and all, to put your hearts into the work the Master calls us to do.

CHURCHWARDEN'S REPORT.' The Churchwarden's report was as follows :—At the close of another financial year, we have much pleasure in submitting to the parishioners the statement of accounts, which shows a very substantial reduction in the Church debt, due entirely to the Vicar's earnest appeal for help. Besides the ordinary expenditure, the vestry has been able to meet the following:—Debit bank balance from last year, £95 7s 3d; instalments on loan, £108 lis 3d'; installation of electric light .in church, £45 15s; painting Vicarage, £33 2s 6d; and purchase of motor car for Vicar's use, £375; making a total of £655 16s. The balance now in hand, £479 14s 3d, together with £90 promised for Appeal Fund, should cover the cost of the Memorial Window; thus leaving a liability of £874 14s 7d, balance of loan. It appears to us that, unless the offertories are increased, there will have to be special appeals and special efforts from time to time until the loan is fully paid off, as the revenue is not sufficient to meet ordinary expenditure, and TJtxy the loan instalments as they fall due. We desire to thank those who have responded to the .appeal, and earnestly call upon all to increase their offerings, so as to minimise, if not entirely do away with, the necessity for special efforts. By regular support in giving what we

can well' afford, week by week, would produce better results, and not cause inconvenience to anyone. The seating accommodation and heating arrangements require attention; and much more in the way of improvements is necessary to make the Church a suitable offering to God from the Church of England people of one of the wealthiest districts of the Dominion.

The,report was adopted. The balance-sheet showed receipts totalling £1981 15s 3d (including offertories £331 Bs, envelopes £156 lis 4d, African Mission £100 2s ' 6d, N.Z. Church Mission Society £73, ChurchMission Fund £35 17 s Bd, and St. Saviour's Orphanage £26 ls lid). Expenditure included balance March 31, 1919 £95 7s 6d, Vicar's stipend £229 3s 4d, general expenses £764 6s sd, Church Property Trust Instalment Loan £106 lis 3d, Church Property Trust Interest Loan £47 3s 3d, missions remitted £259 9s 6d, leaving a credit balance of £479 14s 3d. General expenses totalled £764 6s 5d (including motor car £375). The Church Property Trustees' Loan Account showed a credit balance of £874 14s 7d. The Fairfield Church of England Building Fund showed a credit balance of £114 9s 9d. . Owing to no account being kept for the year 1919, only a partial statement was submitted in reference to the Parish.Magazine Account. A credit balance was shown amounting to £21 12s 3d. The balance to the credit of the St. Stephen's Sunday School amounted to £15 lis, and that of the Hampstead! Sunday School £6 4s 9d Referring to the annual report, the Rev Wiseman said that he had only been connected with the parish forthree months, but hoped to make a long stay in Ashburton. The parish was in the happy position of having a large number of earnest workers. It was gratifying to see the same parishioners offering their services, but he hoped, during the next twelve months that many other members would come forward and enter into the spirit of church work. He urged the members of the church as a,whole to give.further financial assistance. He considered that a large parish like Ashburton should be independent of the Diocesan's grant of £50. In regard to the offertories he wished to encourage the envelope method as the most satisfactory. The church could npt remain on.a.sound footing without financial help. If parishioners were unable to attend church regularly he hoped that their offertories would not suffer on that account. He wished to* take this opportunity of again thanking the churchwardens, the choir and the church workers in general, for their faithful and untiring assistance.

The annual report and balance sheet were adopted.

The following officers were elected: Vicar's warden, Mi- D. Wood; people's warden, Mr A. McClure; vestry, Messrs F. \V. Watt, E. Smith, T. J. Buckton, W. Osman, R. Stock, R. Peters, W. Samuels, W. Childs, E. -H. Mansell, L. S. F. Bell; Synod representative, Mr D. Wood.

On the motion of Mr T. J. Buckton, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the organist and choir, for their combined efforts throughout the year, especially in the direction of Stainer's Crucifixion, which was rendered quite recently.

Mrs T. J. Hunter and E. J. Paul expressed pleasure in the knowledge that the efforts of the choir were appreciated. Mr Wood briefly referred to the splendid work performed by the Women's Guild.

It was resolved on the motion of Mr Buckton that it be a recommendation to the incoming vestry that activities be renewed in reference to the memorial window, which is to be placed in the east end of the church.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the ladies who provided refreshments during the evening.